Charles millington



(No Model.) O. MILLINGTON;

TOOTH POWDER BOX.

Patented May 10,1898.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Orrron.

CHARLES MILLINGTON, OF CLIFFORD, ENGLAND.

TOOTH-POWDER BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 603,731, dated May 10, 1898.

Application filed January 30, 1897. Serial No. 621,345. (No modeLl Patented in England November 22, 1894, No. 22,578; in France July 10,1895, No, 248,801; inBelginm July 10,1895, Ila-116,496; in Germany July 10, 1895,110. 87,857, and

in Austria July 28,1895,No.20,236-

10, 1895; in Austria,No. 20,236, dated July 28, 1895, and in Germany, No. 87,857, dated July 10, 1895,) of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to a new or improved device for storing powdered dentifrice and distributing or applying the same to toothbrushes.

A common method of applying powdered dentifrice to tooth-brushes consists in emptying a quantity of the powder from the receptacle or holder over the brush,with the result that a considerable proportion will almost invariably fall off the brush and be wasted,

while such method does not regularly distribute the powder over the tooth-brush. "According to another method the wet toothbrush is dipped into the body of the powder and an irregular quantity is taken up by the brush, according to its more or less damp condition, while a portion of the damp powder almost invariably falls back into the receptacle, and this greatly injures the store of powder within the reservoir or receptacle, causing it to accumulate in lumps, which latter become quite hard and upon the next insertion of thebrush adhere thereto and are introduced into the mouth to the injury of the teeth and discomfort of the user. Furthermore, in the case of scented powders by this rough treatment much of the fragrance becomes dissipated, and this is especially the case with vegetable powders, and the powder speedily becomes instead of an agreeable an unpleasant thing to introduce into the mouth.

The object of the present invention is to obtain means whereby the powder will be supplied in measured quantities and evenly distributed over the entire length and breadth of the toot-h-brusli,wliile it will generally be practically sealed within the reservoir, and by these means the waste and deterioration of the powder hereinbefore referred to will be entirely obviated, while it will be maintained in a useful and pleasant form for use.

In carrying the invention into effect a reservoir is provided, consisting of a box or receptacle formed on its interior of a V or hopper shape for the purpose hereinafter described and provided with a door or lid upon its top or in other convenient position through which'it may be charged with the powder, and this door or lid takes the form of a screwstopper or is otherwise of such a character that it closely seals the receptacle, thus protecting the contained powder from atmospheric influence and preventing the evaporation of the perfume therefrom.

At the lower part of the'hopper-shaped interior of the box and at diametrically opposite points thereof are formed in the walls of the box two apertures, in which is mounted with capability of longitudinally sliding a combined measuring trough, pusher, and

the same section as the holes in the walls of the box or reservoir through which it passes.

This device or slide is provided at one end with a small handle, beyond which for part of its length it is formed plain to closely fit and-entirely fill when in its normal position the holes or apertures in the Walls of the box, and thus hermetically close the same, or nearly so, while beyond the box it is formed with an indentation or trough constituting a measure.

When a supply of powder is required, the trough is drawn within thereceptacle, when by reason of the hopper formation of the interior thereof the powder will fall by gravity into the trough and fill the same, after which upon returning the slide to its normal position the trough will be expelled from the box, together with its charge of powder, when upon placing the brush upon the trough and inverting both the box or receptacle and the brush the measure of powder will be evenly distributed over the brush without waste.

The act of inverting the box in the manner described hereinbefore in order to discharge the powder from the trough is a very great advantage, inasmuch as it more or less agitates the powder within the box or receptacle and prevents the same from caking.

In order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, more fully to describe the same.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device constructed according to the present invention and showing the parts in their normal position. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the device, showing the slide retracted to bring the trough or measure within the box or casing in position to receive a charge of the powder; and Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section thereof. Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 4:, but showing the trough or measure projected with its charge of powder, and the entire device is inverted in the act of discharging the powder upon a tooth-brush.

In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.

a represents the body of the box or receptacle, which, upon its interior, is formed with a V or hopper shaped chamber a, and a represents a screw-stopper or lid which closes a corresponding aperture in the top of the box a, through which the hopper-shaped chamber or reservoir a may be charged with powder, and this stopper or lid a closely seals the reservoir a, thus protecting the contained powder from atmospheric influence and preventing the evaporation of the perfume therefrom, or the screw-stopper hereinbefore described may, if desired, be arranged in any other convenient position than at the top of the device, or in lieu of a screw-stopper a closely-fitting door, lid, or shutter of other form might be employed for the same purpose, as will be readily understood.

At the lower part of the hopper-shaped chamber or reservoir a and at diametrically opposite points thereof are formed in the walls of the box a two apertures aisurrounded by a suitable india-rubber or other bushing or packing. 0, and within the apertures a and supported by the bushing or packing a is mounted with capability of longitudinally sliding a slide 6, comprising a measuringtrough, a pusher, and hole-stopper, and this device is throughout its length formed of the same transverse section as that of the apertures a in the walls of the box a through which it passes. This device is provided at one end with a small handle, beyond which for part of its length it is formed with a part b to closely fit and entirely fill when in its normal position, as represented at Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6, the holes or apertures a in the walls of the box a, and thus hermetically close the same, or nearly so, while beyond the walls of the box a it is formed with an indentation b, constituting a measure, and with shoulders or flanges b constituting stops to limit the motion of the slide 1).

When a supply of powder is required, the slide 1) is moved endwise until the trough b is retracted within the chamber or reservoir a, when by reason of the hopper-shaped formation of the interior thereof the powder will fall by gravity into the trough b of the slide and fill the same, as indicated at Figs. 4 and 5, after which upon returning the slide 1) to its normal position the trough b will be expelled from the box or receptacle a, together with its charge of p0wder,when upon placing the brush upon the trough b and inverting both the box or receptacle a and the brush 0, as represented at Fig. 6, the measure of powder will be discharged upon and evenly distributed over the brush 0 without waste.

The act of inverting the box a in the manner hereinbefore described in order to discharge the powder from the trough b is a very great advantage, inasmuch as it more or less agitates the powder within the chamber or reservoir a and prevents the same solidifying or caking.

By the means hereinbefore described the powder within the hopper-shaped reservoir a will be sealed against atmospheric influence in either of the extreme positions of the slide 1), thus preventing the escape of perfume from the contained powder, while the trough or measure I), which may have become moistened by contact with the tooth-brush, is not required to be reintroduced into the reservoir a, but remains exposed to the air until the next operation, which would be at some distant time, and thus the trough or measure I) has ample time to become perfectly dry, so that there is no risk of moisture being carried by the trough or measure I) into contact with the powder within the reservoir.

This device is simple in construction and therefore unlikely to get out of order, while it is inexpensive to produce, and is thus adapted to become an article of general use.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent The herein-described tooth-powder box, comprising a casing having inclined or V- shaped walls, the apex of which is at the lower end of said casing, a slide projecting through the sides of said casing adjacent to the lower edge thereof and adapted to engage the lower end of the V-shaped walls, said slide being longer than the width of said casing and being provided at one end with a knob or handle In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 10 my inventionI have signed my name, in presenee of the subscribing witnesses, this 3d day of November, 1896.

CHARLES MILLINGTON.

Witnesses:

JOHN VORDIN MIDDLEBROUGH, OHAs. GILLIARD. 

